Michael Sam, a potential albatross around the neck of the Rams

posted at 12:31 pm on May 11, 2014 by Jazz Shaw

You can say one thing for Missouri defensive end Michael Sam… he probably drove up the ratings for the NFL draft on ESPN well beyond the normal collection of football freaks and geeks (read: “me”) who usually sit and watch it. And in the end – pretty much at the very end – he was selected in the 7th round by the Rams. By this point you’ve probably seen all the headlines and endlessly running clips on cable news, most of which had nothing to do with his gridiron prowess or prospects and everything to do with the fact that he kissed his boyfriend on live television.

That’s just super. I’m sure we’re all very happy for both of you. Now, if you don’t mind getting down to the prickly questions which should actually matter… what happens next, both for Sam and for his new team in St. Louis?

In all the excitement about (cue the band) the first openly gay player in the NFL it remains to be seen not only whether Michael Sam will prove to be a star in the NFL, but if he’ll even play at all. The answer to that question has nothing to do with the gender of who he’s kissing and everything to do with history. The fact is that no matter how much the media or the fans or the LGBT community or whoever are in love with you, the Rams are a business. And their business is winning games. You don’t get a pass for being unique unless that uniqueness comes in the form of destroying opposing quarterbacks, runners and receivers.

Going in the 7th round does not portend well, even before the cameras are shut off from the last interview. Sam was a very good player at Missouri. He may have been great. But that makes you a great college player. Each year there are roughly 9,000 college football players in contention. Of those, a grand total of just over 300 get invited to the combine to be evaluated by NFL scouts. Those who do well enough there may indeed be picked up during the draft. But as I noted above, Sam went in the 7th round. From 2010 to 2012, 78% of 1st round picks went on to a starting or durable position with an NFL team. For those in the second round, the number dropped to just over half. Of those drafted in the 7th round just 8% could make the same claim.

The individual stats coming out of the combine don’t look like a sure fire ticket to the top either. Bleacher Report provided a detailed analysis of Sam’s combine performance before the draft even began, and while he’s still head and shoulders above 99% of all college players, they were not impressed at how he stacked up against the most likely 1st and 2nd round draft prospects. His time in the 40 was slower than some of the linebackers (a position which he’s seen as a bit too small for), say nothing of the defensive ends. He struggled with reps on the weight bench. Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk summed it up this way on Twitter:

Look… it’s still possible that Sam will shock the world and shine like a supernova when he’s tossed into battle against the cream of the NFL crop. And I wish him the best, along with all the other young athletes dreaming the big dream of gridiron glory. But looking at the stats above, it’s not hard to imagine that if this guy were any other regular player coming out of the college ranks, nobody would exactly faint from shock if he wound up without a team on opening day this fall. Like many, many other young hopefuls, the chance is not only real but fairly high that he might not make the cut and the Rams will have to turn him loose to free agency, where his prospects may not look much better. But now he’s captured media lightning in a bottle. If he is cut, will the immediate howls begin across the small screen Left side blogs, claiming that the Rams’ ownership must all be hateful homophobes? Will boycotts be organized? Will this be held up from the highest ramparts as yet another example of the heteronormative patriarchy keeping the gay man down?

Or will people understand that the Rams are there to try to win another Superbowl and they can’t afford even one weak link in the chain? I spend far too much time watching the news to be hopeful about the answer to that question.

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Joel Chandler Harris described this problem in his Uncle Remus story. The Tar baby.

This story is often claimed to be racist but in actuality it is a traditional story from ancient West African folk culture. It is likely that the story came to America with slavery.

For those not familiar with the story, the Tar-Baby is a doll made of tar and turpentine used to ensnare the wily and tricky Br’er Rabbit. When Br’er Rabbit grabs and fights the Tar-Baby, the more he fights it the more entangled he becomes in it’s tarry and sticky clutches.

Nowadays “tar baby” refers to any “sticky situation” that is only aggravated by additional contact. This is classically encapsulated in Mr. Sam as a draft pick unless he surprises almost everyone with his skills and abilities. When one picks up a tar baby one must consider how it might be put back down.

We have a lot to possibly look forward to: his first openly gay 2-a-days, his first openly gay preseason game, his first openly gay 3 point stance, his first openly gay tackle, etc…
The good news is ESPN rarely if ever beats anything into the ground until you want undergo a nice seppuku. We can count on them to follow the story quietly and only give us the occasional relevant facts…

What is crazy about this is the gay agenda, not gays, are driving the madness. Just like the Islamic agenda driven by CAIR, or the black agenda driven by Al, or the global warming agenda driven by the fat white Al.

Gays have been in the NFL and everywhere since the beginning, they just didn’t kiss their boyfriends on TV! We didn’t need to see that, and trust me, there are more than a few gay couples saying the same thing too.

And some of the comments are right, the Rams took one for the NFL, but they are stuck now. Everybody says he plays with heart, but is slow and built wrong for the NFL. Like Tebow, he may be a great athlete that doesn’t translate to the PRO game. Unlike Tebow, the stories won’t reflect the truth about it. They’ll make a big deal about how if he fails it was because he was gay.

And I’m thinking somewhere in Sam’s mind, his “coming out” was like that NBA player. It got him a contract because everybody is afraid to offend the gay agenda. Look at the damage 3% of the population is doing to the rest of us.

They are encouraged to act out because of the leadership in the nation. This is one more example of what I said to my partner back in 2008 when we were retiring. “A bad man in a powerful position can do great harm, not just for what he can do, but for what other will do in his name.”

Can’t wait for any ref making a call against the Rams getting called a homophobe.

Ted the Average on May 12, 2014 at 6:19 AM

Yeah, I figure St. Louis is going have to keep Sam on the team- even if he sucks in the NFL- lest they be accused of homophobia. The thing is the gays don’t want equal treatment, they want special treatment.

OH, and yeah, he’ll make the team. He’ll be that 53rd player that runs down the field on punts and kickoffs, sadly with a camera dedicated to him alone. “Look the gay football player was taken out by a vicious cross block, I wonder if the tackler was harboring some extra animosity over the fact Sam is gay. You know how bigoted some of the players are in the NFL!”

And worse, some other player, not gay or at least not openly gay, will not get a quarter of a million a year, won’t be able to feed his family or live in a nice house, won’t be able to say “I played in the NFL” to his kids and grandkids, because of Sam.

You were doing well, Jazz, until the bit about Michael David Smith’s opinion. The bozos at PFT don’t know any more about a player’s potential than you or I, probably less. Don’t quote these fools as authorities. Pro Football Focus is a much better source.

There was a time when the NFL was about talent, teamwork and ultimately football. Now it is just another bastion for political correctness which serves to reinforce a particular point of view.

It’s become a game of “me” not “we”.

There is no question this was done as a public relations move. There were plenty of players ranked higher who were more worthy of a chance. I hope they get a future opportunity. Because they did not deserve to be overlooked for this nonsense.

Notwithstanding that fact, this is also a display many of us don’t want our young children exposed to. There are enough challenges explaining the world today. I don’t need that poisoning what is ultimately best described as leisure entertainment. Who needs it at that point?

Between the cost of actually attending a game, behavior of players and the ceaseless attempts at pushing a particular point of view- I am finished with the NFL.

It has become a circus. Perhaps someday they will get back to actually playing the game.

MIAMI – Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones was fined an undisclosed amount Sunday and will undergo educational training after sending a negative tweet about Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL draft.

So the NFL will now send Don Jones to a reeducation camp for expressing his personal opinion.

I guess the First Amendment does not apply to the NFL players (and by extension their fans)? So if people have a contrary opinion they are no longer- welcome?

Notwithstanding that fact, this is also a display many of us don’t want our young children exposed to. There are enough challenges explaining the world today.
Marcus Traianus on May 12, 2014 at 7:50 AM

You don’t have to watch the NFL if you don’t want to.
You do know that right?

We have a lot to possibly look forward to: his first openly gay 2-a-days, his first openly gay preseason game, his first openly gay 3 point stance, his first openly gay tackle, etc…
The good news is ESPN rarely if ever beats anything into the ground until you want undergo a nice seppuku. We can count on them to follow the story quietly and only give us the occasional relevant facts…

RuscoPColtrain on May 12, 2014 at 2:23 AM

This.

I am quite sure this was Don Jones’ point, too, but he couldn’t say it articulately in under 140 characters.

After ESPN revolted me about 6 times with that video clip, I managed to stop watching it–and began observing the other male friends Sam had in the room with him. They all were touching each other in traditionally non-masculine ways. In other words, the ESPN coverage gave the impression that Micheal Sam does not have straight friends who care enough about his success to be at a viewing party with him.

So much for his ‘crossover’ appeal.

I didn’t have time to watch the “ride along with Micheal Sam” segments throughout the entire draft, so I’m not really sure. That’s just the impression that ESPN tried to shove down our throats. Oops. Sorry.

That’s the problem, If I don’t dumb isit down how can you read it?
You are seriously lacking in the intellectual department idiot.

weedisgood on May 12, 2014 at 7:22 AM

So….you misspelled a 2 letter word, then failed to catch it in a 2 sentence comment before you submitted it, while commenting on the lack of intellectual prowess of someone else you referred to as “idiot”.

Talk about dumbing it down. Well played, I’m sure he understood you better.

I hate football. Don’t care about it in the least.
It is just so interesting to me how deviant behavior from the human norm is newsworthy & something to be openly celebrated in every avenue and if you aren’t for it then you are a hateful person.
Listen. I’m not supportive of NAMBLA. What does that make me?
I’m also not supportive of people having children out of wedlock.
Nor no-fault divorce. I’m also not supportive of big government and the Patriot Act.
Politicizing these things only turns your sport into a big JOKE.
I remember going to my first rodeo in Reno. It was a gay rodeo & although I had no clue (I was like 12yo), I knew something wasn’t right.
Bcs after that I went to a rodeo that wasn’t specifically sanctioned as a gay rodeo and it was a lot more entertaining without the weird feeling as a spectator.
I can’t wait///// to see the LGTB community try & hijack the PRCA bcs to me that would be the most entertaining show in the world.

I can still remember when going to a game or watching on TV was a lot of fun. Now that the agenda crowd has gotten involved in every aspect from demanding a name change if the current name is considered racist, the need to have a gay player for fairness, or paying college players, it’s not the same and has ruined the enjoyment of the game. Instead of looking at a great play, we see a gay player first. Instead of wanting to wear a players jersey because he’s a great player on your team, you look first to see if he said something racist. This is what these ‘great first steps’ as our dear leader calls them, has brought us.

MIAMI – Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones was fined an undisclosed amount Sunday and will undergo educational training after sending a negative tweet about Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL draft.

Wow, 432 comments, none of which I’ve read. My own take might be far afield from the general view here (then again, it may not). . .

All week prior I was sick, sick, sick of this story. Was so tired of an emphasis on this one player because of an issue unrelated to football. Was annoyed with all the speculation about what would be the reaction if he wasn’t drafted, etc., etc. It’s the NFL draft. Sometimes people are drafted, sometimes they’re not and their dreams take a hit in the process. It sucks for them, but it’s not a national tragedy.

But then I have to admit — when he got the call and burst into tears I felt myself enormously happy for him (I didn’t see the clip of the kiss, just the crying). And then I just saw a young man overcome with joy and relief. With so few picks left, he had to have been thinking he probably wasn’t going to get drafted, and to have his hopes resurrected must have been very powerful. And I had a new appreciation for what he had been through — it sucks for anyone to be passed over, but that’s life. But when you have this level of national attention for months and then get passed over it would probably add a further layer of disappointment and heartbreak (no matter who was responsible for that pressure). To have that feeling transformed into a feeling of relief, joy and gratitude must have been very intense, and I did find it moving to see.

Beyond that, I’m not sure I see the “albatross” issue. He’s a last-round pick. If he can’t cut the mustard, they’ll let him go. Word was that the Pats wouldn’t be able to transcend the Tebow “distraction” when they picked him up, but when they found they couldn’t use him effectively, they dropped him and he faded from view. I think the PC police would have a real hard time portraying the Rams as bigots if they cut this guy, not after the way the Rams rolled this out. The Rams were smart in how they did this; they embraced him completely so if he is subsequently cut, everyone will know it’s purely a football decision.

So….you misspelled a 2 letter word, then failed to catch it in a 2 sentence comment before you submitted it, while commenting on the lack of intellectual prowess of someone else you referred to as “idiot”.

Talk about dumbing it down. Well played, I’m sure he understood you better.

runawayyyy on May 12, 2014 at 8:45 AM

Plus, “idiot” is a repeat of “seriously lacking in the intellectual department” :)

OH, and yeah, he’ll make the team. He’ll be that 53rd player that runs down the field on punts and kickoffs, sadly with a camera dedicated to him alone. “Look the gay football player was taken out by a vicious cross block, I wonder if the tackler was harboring some extra animosity over the fact Sam is gay. You know how bigoted some of the players are in the NFL!”

This. ESPN and NBC (Costas in particular) will make sure that any unsportsmanlike/unneccesary roughness calls in his favor are definitely tied to him being gay. I can hear it now: “Oooh! Sam goes flying after that blind-side block! You know, ya gotta hope that was strictly about football and not about him being the first openly gay NFLer”.

Don’t think it can happen? I am a big MLS fan. After Robbie Roberts came out, it’s all the sportscasters could talk about. He’d always be introduced as “Robbie Roberts, the first openly gay MLS player in the history of the league”. Great. So now his career and value is defined by his sexual orientation. MLK Jr., for many reasons, is spinning in his grave.

Beyond that, I’m not sure I see the “albatross” issue. He’s a last-round pick. If he can’t cut the mustard, they’ll let him go. Word was that the Pats wouldn’t be able to transcend the Tebow “distraction” when they picked him up, but when they found they couldn’t use him effectively, they dropped him and he faded from view. I think the PC police would have a real hard time portraying the Rams as bigots if they cut this guy, not after the way the Rams rolled this out. The Rams were smart in how they did this; they embraced him completely so if he is subsequently cut, everyone will know it’s purely a football decision.

Chuckles3 on May 12, 2014 at 9:27 AM

I don’t mean to be harsh, but you’re crazy. If they don’t outright condemn it, you can rest assured the Rams will have to twist themselves into knots just to prove the cut (if it happens) is strictly business. Motives will be questioned. Random comments, tweets, and the like for which creative liberty will be taken as to the interpretation of will be plastered across the screen. They’ll scrutinize the Rams worse than I can imagine.

Look at the headache Notre Dame faced after Coach Tyrone Willingham was fired. The PC Mafia was in its infancy back then. Now, they’re a 300 pound gorilla.

Way too much ink has already spilled on this. Jeff Fisher and Les Snead took a chance on Sam because they already had done what they sent out to do by the time the 7th round came around. They believe they already have one of the best D lines in the league and they thought Sam might compete for a position as a back up to Chris Long and as an extra rusher on passing downs. Fisher is the kind of guy who has never cared what the media thinks so if Sam winds up getting cut, I expect very little worry on the part of the Rams. Given his mediocre performance at the combine, his chances are slim and everyone knows it. My prediction is that anyone who later tries to argue that Sam didn’t get a fair shot are not going to be well received.

It’s getting so the small percent of the population with gender issues are running the show every where!

I feel like the rest of us are being found guilty of being heterosexual, and not caring much about the life of homosexuals… I don’t care, do you thing in private please!

How can so few percent of the population have such domination over what I have to see and watch? Get over yourself, it’s not fun to see! Not fun!

AS for the phobia thing: I am NOT a big fan of heterosexual sex in every advertisement and every plot line either… I wish TV would go back to twin beds for couples and shows that dealt with every issue but sex… but I seem to be in the minority on that.

Can I just roll my eyes at all sex in the public square? GEt over yourself! Everyone! It’s not that fun to watch!!!!!

Didn’t football used to be a game that men played? When did get become about the sex they have after?

Beyond that, I’m not sure I see the “albatross” issue. He’s a last-round pick. If he can’t cut the mustard, they’ll let him go. Word was that the Pats wouldn’t be able to transcend the Tebow “distraction” when they picked him up, but when they found they couldn’t use him effectively, they dropped him and he faded from view. I think the PC police would have a real hard time portraying the Rams as bigots if they cut this guy, not after the way the Rams rolled this out. The Rams were smart in how they did this; they embraced him completely so if he is subsequently cut, everyone will know it’s purely a football decision.

Chuckles3 on May 12, 2014 at 9:27 AM

I don’t mean to be harsh, but you’re crazy. If they don’t outright condemn it, you can rest assured the Rams will have to twist themselves into knots just to prove the cut (if it happens) is strictly business. Motives will be questioned. Random comments, tweets, and the like for which creative liberty will be taken as to the interpretation of will be plastered across the screen. They’ll scrutinize the Rams worse than I can imagine.

Look at the headache Notre Dame faced after Coach Tyrone Willingham was fired. The PC Mafia was in its infancy back then. Now, they’re a 300 pound gorilla.

No offense taken. I just have a different prediction on this. We’ll see how it plays out. I think the fallout of cutting the last player taken is not going to be anything like firing a head coach.

I expect very little worry on the part of the Rams. Given his mediocre performance at the combine, his chances are slim and everyone knows it. My prediction is that anyone who later tries to argue that Sam didn’t get a fair shot are not going to be well received.

I expect very little worry on the part of the Rams. Given his mediocre performance at the combine, his chances are slim and everyone knows it. My prediction is that anyone who later tries to argue that Sam didn’t get a fair shot are not going to be well received.

gimblin67 on May 12, 2014 at 11:17 AM

At least one other post sees it as I do!

Chuckles3 on May 12, 2014 at 8:21 PM

Same here Chuckles.

In a previous post, I stated if you go by the numbers that drafters use, he’s lucky to be drafted. When you had 17 rounds just about everyone who could walk or chew gum at the same time could be drafted. With 7 rounds now, just because a guy is supposed to be a “mid-level” draft pick doesn’t mean he’s capable.

A lot of guys will also tell you that being drafted in the 7th round is not necessarily that much better than being a free agent. When you’re drafted you have to go with whoever drafts you. Usually free agents can choose from a couple of teams to come to camp with, and they can choose the team that fits their style.

Think free agents can’t be stars? Try Tony Romo, or Arien Foster.

Back to Sam.

Missouri was ranked 58th in the NCAA in total defense, in other words, average.

Sam was not in the top 100 tacklers in the NCAA.

His 40 times were 4.79 and 4.84, anemic when 300 pound left tackles are running that time. His bench presses were worse than running backs.

He runs straight up, poor technique when trying to catch up with running backs out of the backfield. He’s slotted for outside linebacker or stand-up end pass rusher. He doesn’t have the explosive speed to get pass the left tackles in the NFL that are bigger, stronger and sometimes faster. He can get “skinny” on the inside rush but an NFL running back will probably have the chops to take him down.

If he has the heart to work the hours he might make it, and I wish him luck (really). But if you know anything about the draft, you know he was lucky to be picked.

When Sam first announced he was gay, I thought it was a genius move at the time, most likely perpetrated by his agent. That way, if things didn’t go exactly as Sam and his agent wanted, they could just start yelling “homophobia” and things would suddenly (in their minds, at least) start working out.

Not drafted? The entire NFL is homophobic. (that one didn’t happen)

Not drafted high enough? 31 teams are homophobic. (I’m surprised that talk hasn’t started yet)

Didn’t make the final roster coming out of training camp? The team is homophobic. (yet to be determined)

Made the final roster but not a starter? The team is homophobic.

Is a starter but doesn’t play enough? The team is homophobic.

Somehow, I can see it playing out this way, with a little help from certain organizations.

Will the NFL create a roster excemption for essentially a gay player……The Rams get to carry 55 with also one more active on game days vrs the other teams at 54……..Gotta believe there were behind the scenes negotiations during the last day of the draft between front office and teams.

In the interest of diversity, we have selected a homosexual player to compete for a position on our roster. This will entail patience and understanding on your part as members of the Rams organization. If you feel said homosexual player is looking inappropriately at your genitals in the lockerroom environment, under no circumstances are you to take any direct action. What you should do is report the incident to management. In turn, the staff and management of the Rams will coordinate and arrange re-education and sensitivity training for you at the earliest convenience (if you are a starter or primary back-up). Third stringers and practice squad players will be immediately released from the roster. Thank you.